Cane harvesting machine



Dec. 5, 195o T. A. GUILD CANE HARVESTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJari. 25, 1946 @www5 Dec. 5, 1950 T. A. GUILD 2,532,904

v CANE HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Cb 9 NTHUN/1.54604@ Dec. 5, 1950 T. A. lGUILD CANE HARVESTING MACHINE 9Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 25, 1946 THQ/M5 /LGUM 0,

Dec. 5, 1950 T. A. GUILD 2,532,904

CANE HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 194e 9 sheets-sheet 4 Dec. 5,1950 T. A. GUILD 2,53%904 CANE HRVESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet 5 I /V VE /V T 0l? THU/7,45 A. 60H0,

Dec. 5, i950 T. A. GUILD CANE HARVESTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledJan. 25. 1946 /NVENTO Dec. 5, 1950 T. A. GUILD 253,904

y CANE HARvEsTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Ufo/w15A. GUM D,

ec. E95@ T. A. GUILD 2,532,964

CANE HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 194e 9 sheets-sheet 8 Syvum/vbo@THOMAS A. Ga/L o,

Dec. 5, 1950 T. A. GUILD SSQM CANE HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25,1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Dec. 5, 1.950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CANE HARVESTING MACHINE Thomas A. Guild,Waipahu, Territory of Hawaii Application Ilanuary 25, 1946, Serial No.643,324

Claims.

' Myl invention relates to cane harvesting machines and its principalobject is to provide a practical harvester capable of' cutting a,plurality of rows of cane at one time and depositing the cut' cane onthe ground in heaped piles out of the path of movement of the harvester.

This application is a continuation in part of vmy application Serial No.513,274, led December 'two-thirds of each stalk is lying on the groundand only the remaining one-third or top end of the' stalk is upright.The result is that by the time of harvesting, theV stalks lare in atangled interlockedv mass most of which is lying on the ground and,since the .average yield of newly planted sugar cane is approximatelyvone hundred tons per acre, the-*cane stalks are so lthoroughly tangledand interlocked as' to form, in effect, a matted blanket.

Various machines Vhave heretofore been devised for harvesting cane but,because of the tangled condition into w-hich it grows and the consequentsevere, service conditions under which the machines. must be operated,no one of them, even the most cormzxlicatedr has been successful inoperation.

I have found. that the cane can be successfully cut and then elevated toa desired point of discharge out of the path of the advancing `harvesterit noy attempt is made to dsarrange the stalks by either .pullingorvpushing on them. By myy inventicn a swath o cane is. cut not only fromthe ground, but also from cane at the side of the swath, and theblanketof cut cane is transferred .to a. forwardly advancing, upwardlyandrearwardly extending incline of the harvesting` machine and. elevatedthereby without disturbing its tangled condition for discharge at therear of the machine. One of. the most important objects ofthe invention,therefore,A is to cut the cane and perm-.it` it. to` move rearwardlyrelatively to the harvesting machine withoutv pushing or pulling on thecane so as to. therebymove the cut cane to a desired point of dischargewithout disturbing rits tangled interlccked condition..

The particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated anddescribed is constructed of such' scrap material as was available duringthe war period and weighs approximately twentyfour tons. Many of theparts of the machine were, therefore, chosen without regard vto theirpossible excess weight or excess strength and specie shape,4 but bymaking such changes. in structural parts as would suggest themselves toa mechanicskilled in the. art, 'the weight of the machine can besubstantiallyreduced and parts of the construction improved. However,the weight preferably should not be reduced a material amount as it isdeemed necessary that the machine possess substantial weight tosatisfactorily perform its intended Work.

One of theprimary features ofthe invention consists in. providing a,sugar cane harvesting machine with cutters Afor freeing, a swath 'ofcane from, the ground and from cane at the side. of the swath and infurther providing a rearwardly and upwardly extending incline to whichthe cut cane is transferred. andelevated during the forward advance. ofthe machine without disturbing the tangled interlocked conditionthereof.

Another feature ofVV the invention consists in providing. the upwardlyandv rearwardly extending incline of the harvesting machine with movablemechanism for preventing the cut cane from. sliding back down theincline to thereby insure its elevation as the machine continues toadvance.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing the harvesterwith horizontal reciprocating cuttersadapted to cut cane stalks close tothe ground and thus form a. compact roadway for the machine in its.lforward. movement, the cutters reciprocating at approximately twice therateof. forward movement ofthe machine so as not to cut more. than once.in the same place.

A. further .feature of. the invention consists in providing theharvester with side trimmers for cutting cane stalks which are lying onor near'. thegroundinthe path of. the advancing harvester but out` ofrange of. the. reciprocating or other ground cutters sov that canegrowing in rows adjacent to those being. cut will not be pulled out ofthe ground. or crushed by the machine and the cane growing the rowsbeingy cut but interlocked with uncut cane atone side of the machinewill. noty interfere with. `free movement of the tangled mass. of canerelatively to the upwardly extending incline.

A still Vfurther feature of the invention consists in provid-ing theharvester adjacent the reciprocating cutters With revolving litters"which, in

addition to preventing the cut cane from pushing ahead of the harvester,keep the reciprocating cutters clear of the cut cane stalks and evenlytransfer the blanket of cut cane from the ground to an upwardly andrearwardly extending incline.

Still another feature of the invention consists in providing theharvester with an improved structure which inclines upwardly andrearwardly from the cutting members and is provided with movable meansadapted to engage the cut cane to prevent it from moving back'down theincline, the horizontal component of speed of the movable means beingsubstantially equal to the speed of advance of the harvester.

A still further feature of the invention consists in providing novelmeans whereby the conveyer structure which functions to hold the cutcane to insure its advance up the incline as the machine moves forwardand the reciprocating cutters may be either simultaneously orindependently moved to an operative position.

Other and more specic features of the invention, residing inadvantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts, willhereinafter ap pear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a substantially diagrammatic side elevational view of theharvester.

Figure 2 is a substantially diagrammatic side elevational View of theharvester similar to Figure 1 but showing the cutter unit and conveyerstructure in elevated and inoperative positions.

Figure 3 is a substantially diagrammatic side elevational view of theopposite side of the machine, the cutter unit and conveyer structure being in the position shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a substantially diagrammatic plan view of the machine.

Figure 5 is a front end view of the lower part of the machine.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the front half of theharvester.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of most of the rear halfof the harvester.

Figure 8 is an enlarged top view of the forward portion of the cutterunit of the harvester, the conveyer structure being omitted.

Figure 9 is a continuation of Figure 8 and is a top view of theremainder of the cutter unit and of the forward portion of the rigidframe of the harvester, the lconveyer structure being removed.

Figure 10 is a continuation of Figure 9 and is a top view of theharvester with the conveyer structure being removed.

Figure 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line II-IIof Figure 3.

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view of the lifter device and theattached transfer plate.

Figure 13 is a detail transverse sectional View through the disk foractuating the side trimmers.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of theconveying apparatus.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of themechanism for arresting opening movement of the hopper gate.

Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view taken on line iI-IG of Figure6.

In the drawings, I indicates the rigid frame of the harvester on whichis pivotally mounted a cutter unit 2 and an upwardly and rearwardlyinclined structure 3. The rigid frame is preferably rotatably mountedupon a travelling base 4 (Figure 7) having two endless tracks 5. Withthe rigid frame and the operating parts which are mounted thereon beingpivotally connected to the travelling base, they may be swung entirelyaround with respect to the base so that the harvester may operate ineither direction without the necessity of turning the base around. Thecontour of the ground which is laid out for irrigation as well as forgrowth of cane is, therefore, not needlessly disturbed and the caneplants themselves remain substantially unharmed in the area of the fieldwhere the direction of movement of the harvester is reversed.

The cutter unit 2 comprises two identical cutting devices 6 andcorresponding parts of each are, therefore, designated by the samereference numerals. Each cutting device includes a pair of side framemembers respectively having upper and lower longitudinally extendingmembers I and 8, preferably of angle shape. The angles of each frame maybe advantageously connected at their inner ends by upright box-likechannnels 9 and adjacent their outer ends by a plurality of uprightangles I I. The channels 9 of each frame may advantageously be connectedby similarly shaped transverse channels 9a and the up right angles IImay be connected by plates Ill.

Each cutter frame is provided with a pair of rearwardly extendingmembers I2 by which it is hingedly connected to a transverse shaft I3mounted in brackets I4 rigid with and projecting forwardly from theframe I. As seen in Figure 9, the axes of the two shafts of the cuttingdevices are concentrically disposed so that they may swing as a unit ina vertical direction.

Each of the cutting devices is also provided with a pair of oppositelyarranged channels l5 Supported by auxiliary angles Ila connected to thetransverse plates I Il affording a support on which a cross head I6 isslidable (Figure 8). If desired, the cross head may be of built up'construction, as shown in Figure 16, consisting of upper and lowerplates I1 connected by angles to side plates I3. Secured to the outerfaces of the side plates I8 are blocks or the like I9 con stituting ribswhich t within the channels I5 and thus serve to slidably support thecross head.

Depending from and rigidly connected to the cross head is a support 2Qfor tubular members 2i which are adapted to receive arms 22 having acutting blade 23 attached to their forward ends. As shown in Figure 16,the support for the tubular members may conveniently consist of a topplate 24, depending side plates 25 and braces 26. The tubular members 2Iwhich are preferably slotted from one end to the other may be secured tothe lower ends of the side plates 25 by welding (Figure 16)..

The arms 22 which carry the cutting blade 23 at their outer ends andextend into the tubular members 2l are each formed with an upstandingreinforcing rib 2 which ts within the slot of the tubular member. At itsinner end the rib 2 preferably abuts against a shearing pin 28 which ismounted in a pair of upstanding brackets 29 rigid with the tubularmember. Each tubular member is also provided with a second pair ofupstanding brackets Si) for receiving a rivet 3l to prevent the tubularmember from spreading so that it will at all times continue to exertsufficient frictional hold on the arm 22 to grip it firmly. A suitablespacer or the like 3Ia may, of course, be interposed between thebrackets 30 so that, when they are 23e-sagem connected*by an rivet; the-Yslot inv the tubular memberfwill not bef-closed# up;

Bly having-the inner end of th'eribsfZ -fon'ftlfl'e armsf'22 A4abutagainst shearing freins,- -the arms and therefore `the .attached cutterblade may move rearwardlywhenthe blade' strikes aflarg-eestoneor-'oth'er hardand 'immovable Aobject (Figure-f); The blades and-thevpartsof the ymachine@with Wittlich-'they are associated are thus fprevented from-serious damage;

-Revolubly mounted in bearings 32 Vin;-the-outer ends-of plates 33 whicharefrigidwith-and'fproe ject' forwardly fromA the frame each cuttingdevice is a' shaft-i341 (Figufre).l Thisshat may conveniently be squarein cross sectionlandflon itis'imounted a plurality of-pronged rdisks-65which' are maintained in suitably-spaced yrelation by spacersf 3&2 Eachdisk Vhasia plurality" of prongs or arms 35 which'b'ecauseofbeing-located adiacent-'the cutterslserve toflift the cane lying onornear the ground astheharvesten advances and "thereby enable vthereciprocating cutters to act -'freelyI In addition to thisA function,the pronged disks lift the blanket of fcut canefand transfer f it vtothe conveyer structure 3.-l The-cut cane is ythusprevented from beingpushed ahead and accumulating in front of the harvester and interferingwith theiree oper-ation off-.the cutting knives.

The space-between thecanelifting disks :i5-and the upwardiyandfrearwardfly incline-structure Ais bridged lby -a plate Aor apron -3lI l (Figure l2) which is supported .at .its forward edge. Abybushingsft encircling shaft 3d and which, inthe present emb'odimentof'the invention, isadapted to rest at Ii-ts rear-edge upon theilooraotthe upwardly andrearwarly inclinel structure 3J. The forward portionof the transferplate iseformed with a plural-ity' of notches throughwhich the prongs orv arms ofthelifters may pass, These notches arepreferably undercut,V a-s show-n inFigureS; because successive prongs onthe-disks arebent iii-opposite directions so that each diskwill beself-cleaningand trash inthe canefielfdlwill not clog' the'spacesbetweenthe prong-s1 The cane lifting edge--oi `eac-h prongfordisk-ils arched orconvexlyV curvedlso-that portions of the: cut tangled-'cane liftedtlierebywi-l-l not b'ecome wedged or otherwise caught between` theprongs and the plate 3.1 Aandthe blanketoi willpass uninterruptedlv-tothe floor 35i-- Asma-y be seenfrom Figure- 5, thefprongs offthedifferent l-ifters are not ofv uniform leng-thbuti-vary in length sov astov conform to the contour ot' the ground: and thus not dig intoany partot-`4l the furrow.v In Hawaiiiand similary places', the sugarcan'efgrows inthe furrows and-not in the ground mcundedbetween them and;forthis reasonthe diameter ofgthe disks which. are justtotherearofrthezreciprocating cutters is the greatest. r"Lilie cross. head ld ofeach cutting device be reciproeated` by any suitable means, such; forexample, as a. crank shaftfil, which. is .mounted in a housing, disupported by :the 'transverse channels 9a.. The crank shaft may .bepre-vided with ana-rm (i2 (Figured) havinga pin.ort'runn nien t3 at itsouter end for cooperating?. with a yokeV d4 which; may be rigidlyyconnectedtothe cross. head by a pair of plates ita. With a constructionof, this character thel cutter 'can moveback and fortha distance of'ahoutfoilltelli inches.

Crank shaft lill may be advantageously uref vided with a sprocket whichmay be rotated by a. chain 45 drivenbv a sprocket mountedon shatt vI3.Shaft 'I3 is also preferably provided at its 6 inneru endw with anadditional; sprocket for driving asprocket cha-in i65-A for rotating ashaft 41 mountedy in; the forward end' of' thecutting device. From theshafts-iljofy the two cutting devices, motion is imparted by sprocketchains d8 toshaft 3ft having the disks 35.

Ther structure v3; which is sometimes called a conveyer for lack of abetter name, is pivotally connected'adiacent its'inner-or upper end tothe fram-e of" the harvester-'by a transverse shaft 49 which may beconveniently supported at opposite ends in uprights irigid'` with theframe (Figure 2. StopV member 5ta, shown in dotted lines in Figure 6,rigid with the 'frame are preferably se-A curedto and project inwardlyfrom upright `members `lgalso rigid with the frame, for limiting,downward movement ofthe forward end of the conveyer.

The incline structure B' includes two side frames eachY ofwhich mayadvantageously consist ci' upperand` lower angles 53 and 5drespectively, ya. pair of internfiediate angles and side wall plate 555to which the bottom andv intermediate angles larev secured (Figure 11).The upper-angle "53 which is, spaced above the upper edge of theadjacentV side wall plate 56 is connected thereto icy a plurality ofsuitalilyv arranged relatively inclined angular members 5l. The two sideframes of the structure may be rigidiyconnected together by the floorplate 39 secured to the bottom; angles Sli and a plurality of: inclinedbraces or struts 56 which extend inwardly from the frame andv areconnected at their inner ends by a truss-like mein-ber 59 having-A-upper and lower angles 60'.

Movable within the inclinedy chiiteV thus formed is mechanism comprising(Figure 14) a plurality of endless chains 6l' whichY pass aroundsprockets carried by shafts ISE and t3 resnectively mounted at opposite,ends of the incline structure. Carried by substantially triangularlyshaped links 6@ oi-` the chains 6i and extending from one side 0f' thestructure to the other at suitably spaced intervals are a plurality ofrods j to which arms or lingers @Bare pivot'ally connestedv for engagingthe blanket of cane delivered to the chute and moving with it as theblanket is` forced up, the incline during forward advance off the.machine.

Thel armscr fingers 55. may be advantageously arranged in pairs andthose of each pair are preferably orrned withV converging portion-s 6Jwhich. are securedy at their treeY ends to a bushing or sleeve d8.loosely encircling the adjacent lro .inter-mediate the pail?, Qfadjoining tiziana lid. .Adjacent the outer ends of the portions 6l thearms or fingers 66 are connected by or bushings to. auxiliary rods 'HJvliich. are-unconnected to the sprocket-.chains El.. -lf f lingers 5,5..are, thereio-re, not rigidly` connetted te the sprocket chains butinsteady are movable or hingedly connected to themy the sleeve EBS;kencircling the rods. 65.

At. their oppositeends the rods e5* and in. in the upper reach Sie ofthe sprocket Ichairs ride along and are. supported by the inwardlyprojecting flanges of upper ang-les 53 and interried-iate their endsthey arey supported by `the upper angles 69. of the truss; 5a. As therods pass. from the upper `reach of the chain toi the lower reach@dbthereof' the ends of the. rods enter .in-t0 .al guideway formed bythe intermedia-tev4 anglesv 5 5. and are supported by the lower one oithose angles- Smilar sudeweys are. pw.- vided at the lower end of theincline structure to prevent the arms or fingers 66 from swinging in anuncontrolled manner with respect to the sprocket chains, the uppermembers of the guideways at the entrance thereof being inclined upwardlyas indicated at 1I.

The speed of the fingers 66 is timed with respect to the forwardmovement of the harvester sc that the horizontal component thereof issubstantially equal to the forward speed of the machine. The fingers,therefore, act more in the nature 0f holding fingers, preventing the cutcane from sliding back down the incline than they do as conveyingiin-gers, the force tending to move the out cane up the incline andthereby elevating it for discharge at the rear of the machine :beingfurnished by the forward movement of the machine itself. The upwardlyand rearwardly extending incline, therefore, functions as a wedge movingbetween the ground and the cut cane as the harvester advances to elevateit tc a position where it may be discharged out of the path of movementof the harvester. The construction of the fingers 66 and their pivotalassociation with the sprocket chains 6l is such that they are capable ofreadily extending into the tangled mass of cane stalks delivered to theiioor 39 of the incline.

With the incline disposed as illustrated in the drawings to elevate thecane approximately fifteen feet for discharge at the rear of the ma.- i

chine, it will Ibe necessary for the fingers 66 to move at a rate ofabout fifty-four feet per minute while the harvester is travelling atabout fifty feet per minute. The horizontal component of the speed ofmovement of the lingers the relative speed of the fingers 6B Vwithrespect to the speed of forward movement of the machine is dependentupon the angle of the incline to the horizontal.

The upper end of the iicor 3S terminates a substantial distance, fivefeet for example, short of the adjacent sides of the incline structureso that the cane stalks may drop away from and be free of the fingers 66before they start to move upwardly to the upper reach of the endlesssprocket chain. To prevent upstanding cane from entering the chute atransverse rod 'I2 is mounted in front of the shaft 62 on a forwardlyprojecting extension 'I3 (Figures l, 2 and 3).

At each side of the incline structure at the forward lower portionthereof is a vertically acting trimming device for cutting cane stalksgrowing in the furrows being cut which extend laterally of the inclineand also for cutting cane stalks growing in adjacent furrows butprojecting into the path of the harvester (Figure 6). A swath of thetangled interlocked cane is, therefore, cut which can be easilytransferred to the door 39. Each of these side trimmers comprises a pairof rearwardly converging blades i4 and a double edged knife "i5 which ispivotally mounted so as to coact with each blade. Rigid with the knifeis an arm 'i6 which is connected by a link AIl to trunnion or pin '18 ofa crank disk 'i9 mounted on the adjacent end of the shaft 62 at theforward end of the conveyer. The pin or trunnion 68 being eccentric withrespect to the shaft 62 imparts, through the link 11 and arm 16, anoscillating motion to the knife 15 whereby it is caused to successivelycoact with the blades '14.

Each crank disk 79 is preferably connected to the shaft 62 by a shearingpin 80 so as to prevent damage to the connected side trimming deviceshould a hard foreign object find its way into the path of movement ofthe knife 15 (Figure 13) This connection between the crank disk 'I9 andthe shaft 62 may be conveniently accomplished by rigidly providing eachend of the shaft 62 with a collar 8l having a flange 82 which may beeasily connected to the crank disk by the shearing pin 8i).

It will, of course, be appreciated that, as the harvester advancesusually only the trimming device on the side of the machine adjacent thecane being cut is operatively effective, since cane has already been cutfrom the field at the opposite side of the machine where the othertrimming device is located. However, while only one trimming device maybe operatively cutting cane when the machine travels in one direction,the other trimming device becomes the operative one when the directionof travel of the machine is reversed.

A hopper 83 formed in part by a cage or gate 8B may be convenientlypositioned at the rear of frame l beneath the rear end of the inclinestructure 3 so as to receive the cut cane which falls therefrom. Thecage is rigidly tted with laterally projecting shafts 85 rotatablymounted in suitable bearings carried by the harvester frame and it maybe formed of sections of pipe 86 on which is arranged a plate or thelike 81. The gate is adapted to be swung upwardly periodically so as topermit the cane within the hopper to discharge on Ythe ground in piles.The capacity of the hopper is preferably such that the piles of cut canewill be from twenty to twenty-ve feet apart.

It will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art that,instead of discharging the cut cane into a hopper and then on theground, it may be directly deposited on the ground, or it could beloaded directly into trailers or wagons coupled to the harveter which,when fully loaded, could be disconnected from the harvester to take thecane to railway gondola cars which are capable of holding twenty tothirty tons or more.

The mechanism for swinging the gate upwardly to open position ispreferably such that it will be automatically rendered inoperative afterthe gate is swung to a predetermined point and yet will lock or hold thegate in open position while the cane is discharging from the hopper.This mechanism may advantageously comprise sprockets 88 (Figure 2) rigidwith shafts 85 around which pass sprocket chains 89 driven by sprockets96 mounted on opposite ends of a transversely extending shaft 9isuitably supported on the frame of the machine. Mounted on this shaft SIis a sprocket 92 which is adapted to be operatively connected to theshaft by a clutch 93 (Fig. l0), motion being imparted to the sprocket S2from a sprocket chain 9d. The clutch 93 includes a shifter 95 which isresponsive to movement of a lever 96 under the control of the operatorof the machine whereby the sprocket S4 may be connected to anddisconnected from it and thus control opening movement of the gate 84.The connection between the lever' 95 and the clutch shifter 95 consistsof a rod 9T pivotally connected to the lever and suitable linkage 98movably connected `sprocket 92 from the shaft 9|.

mcsa-,luce

tothe clutch shifter, the arrangement `ofthese partsbeing such that,when the rod is moved toward the rear of theymachine, as viewed inFigure 3, the shifter is 'caused to operatively connect the sprocket 92to shaft 9 I.

'To automatically arrest .opening -movement of the cage after it hasbeen moved upwardly a suicient distance to' enable' the cut canetocompletely discharge from the hopper, mechanism responsive to-openingmovement of the gate is provided vfor Amoving the rod 91 and linkage98in. the opposite direction ,to disconnect the This mechanism mayconveniently consist of a pivotaliy mounted lever 99 having a pivotedarm |00 Vwhich is slidably supported just above oneof the sprocketchains l89 in a suitable guide on the upper'end of an arm Arigid withthemachine. vThe forward end of the pivoted arm |00 is disposed in the pathof movement of a member |02 (see Fig. which is secured to and movablewith the adjacent sprocket chain 89, the member |02 being so arranged onthechain that it will abut the pivoted arm and move it rearwardly whenthe chain has moved a suicient distance to raise the gate 84 to thedesired open position. Movement of the pivoted arm |00 by the stopmember |02 will cause lever 99 to rotate in a counterclockwise directionas viewed in Figure 3 and during such rotation it engages a bracket |93rigid with and projecting laterally from the rod 91 `whereby the rodandthe connected linkage 98 is caused to move in a direction declutchingthe sprocket j92from shaft 9|. Opening movement of the gate is thereuponarrested. To permit the gate to move downwardly to closed position afterthe cane has'discharged from the hoppen'the sprocket chains 89 willmove-in the opposite direction to restore stop member |02 to itsoriginal position and a spring |04 is preferably: einployed to returnthe pivoted leverv 99 and its pivoted arm |00 to their originalpositions.

To prevent the gate 34 from immediately returning to closedposition whenupward movement thereof if arrested, vdetents E95 are pivotally mountedon opposite sides of the hopper for respectively "cooperating withlocking vplates |05 mounted on the endsof the shafts85on which the gateis rotatably supported `(Figures 1,2' and 3). Eachde'tent has a pair ofarms |01 and |98A and each isi normally maintained by a spring |09 in aposition such thatY its arm |01 is disposed in the path of movement ofthe associated locking plate H55. The lockingplates-l |06 arerespectively formed with recesses whichfare vso arranged that at theinstant the sprocket 92 is'de'clutched from the shaft 9| and the gate'is therefore free to moveV backto closed position, the Varms |01 of thedetents will project into thev recesses' in the locking plates and' thushold shaft 85 from rotating in a direction enabling the gate to move toclosed' position. Y v

To release 'the detents from the lockingplates to permit the gate tofall by gravity to closed position, the arms |09 of each detent'areconnectedby rods I9 to levers rigidly mounted upon ashaft ||2 whichextends from one' side of the harvester tothe other and is journaled insuitable brackets |13. The lever on one side of the machine 'isconnected by a rod. ||4 to a lever' IE5 which may be easily actuated bythe. operator ofthe. machine. for rotating the detents |05 in adirection whichwill move their arms |01 from? engagement withy the.locking 10 platesmiiand thus enable the gate '84 :tomovetofclosedapcsition.

To .rlaise the forwardlendv of ithe inclinestructurefa pair tofsubstantially .triangularlyi shaped platesfv H6, maybe.yconvenientlylpivctally mounted upon a shaft I lgjournaied in brackets'mounten onlthe 'outer Vendsof members ||8 which are rig-id' with` andproject forwardly from the centrali portion ofthe.` main framev |r ofthe; machine between Itli'etwddevices of the cutting. unit (Figure 6).Pivotall'y .connected tolthe triangular pl'atesll Yare a zp'airof links||L9 `which 4extend upwardly .and yare .pivotally connected Avat theirupper Sends a to brackets |20 .rigid withA a stiffeningizmember' v| 2secured` to the under `side'` ofiithe loort anolf extending from4oneside 4thereof to the other. Also pivotallyfconnected .to .thetripflateslilisfthe outer en'd'fof a` piston |22icfz. .cylin'derfl23which is mounted onthe irainezof the: machine and is'adapt'ed to receiveiluidiu'n'der pressure vso vas to move` thepiston |22 outwardly andithuscause the Jtriangular.plates i tto rotate .-aboutthe shaft. i1v in: acounterclockwise :directionr as viewed in. Figurex. :This movement ofthe'triangular plates will'movexthe linksr |19' upwardly .and,.therefore, cause thef forwfardend..of theincline structure" to .move.upwardlyaabout tlieshaft 49,011l .which itis .pivotalfly supported.adjacent its upper end.

ft.; is l"frequently desirable, f as when the harvester l :is "toL"befrotated .about its travelling 'base orzwhesnl at. 1s" to be movedfrom .onei'eldl to anotlierfto:l raise theforward endof the .cuttingunit r-.atf the same timethezforwand end of the incline `vstruct-une iislraised. For 'this purpose; the cuttmg devicemaybe'advantageouslyprovddedwadjacentits rear end with a pairlfofupstanding rigidT arms |.2 having. rollers o'r' the like |25vat theiruppery ends which are"slidablewith in slots |26 in members |21mounted-on the sides of` the'incline structure l(Figure 6). kvWith Vthemembers |21held: immovable witl'i'resp'ect to the incline structure-itwill bereadily seen that, w-hen the forward-end of the incline israised,.the` forward" end of the "cutting unit will also be raised,7theunit rotating1as..a whole about shaft |3.Ybywhich it is.pivotallyconnect'ed to the 4frame of the. machine.

While the members |21 must be heldfirnmov-` able vwith respect to theincline structure when it-isf-desired to have" the 'cutting unit .movelupwardly simultaneously therewith; the-members 211 are neverthelesspivotally' :mounted 1 at their' lower: ends on pins: |28` so that thekcutting' unit maybe moved andadjusted independently-ofthe incline. Byrotating the'member's |21 aboutttheir pins |28.: it will be readily`pe'rcei-ved'that .the rollers |25 carried-. bythe'farms: |24 which arerigidwith 4the cutting 'unitaref caused'to'r'move and ,consequently theentire Y cutting unit yis caused togr'otate-about the shaft|3fby'which'it is..pivotally oonnectedzto the frame To move the members`|721,` and thusadjusti the cutting unit independently of theconveyerstructure a pair of simultaneouslyoperable uid prespropellingthe harvester, is supplied by an engine |32 mounted upon the harvesterframe. Connected to the engine by a clutch |33 is a main drive shaft |35supported in bearings |35 (Figure At the outer end of the main driveshaft is a pinion for driving a silent chain |31 which passes around apinion |38 mounted on the outer end of a shaft |39 which drives atransmission device iet pro-vided with three outlets. As hereinafterdescribed one outlet has but one speed and one motion and is for turningthe harvester frame on the travelling base. A second outlet whichpreferably has two speed changes and two motions is for driving thetravelling base. The third outlet actuates the cutting mechanism as wellas the conveyer and has two speed changes and one motion.

The outlet for rotating the frame and the harvesting mechanism carriedthereby with respect to the travelling base 4, consists in extendingshaft |59 through the transmission |45 where it is connected by acoupling |l|| to a shaft |42 supported in bearings |43 (Figure l0).Through a sprocket chain |44, shaft |42 drives a clutch device m5 whichis connected to a worm reduction gear MS connected with the upper end ofa vertical shaft |551 supported in bearing |48. On the lower end ofshaft |41 is a pinion |49 which meshes with a ring gear rigid with thetravelling base and concentric with the center pin |5| which rotatablyconnects the rigid frame of the machine and the travelling base. Thebase of the frame is rotatably supported on the travelling base by twosets of rollers |52 and |53, the inner set of rollers |52 being movablealong a circular track on the upper side of the ring gear |55 and theouter set of rollers |53 being movable along a trackway |5 rigidlymounted on the travelling base adjacent opposite ends thereof.

Connected to the shifter o-f clutch |45 is a rod |55, a fragmentaryportionv of which is shown in Figure l0, which may be connected to anysuitable means such as a bell crank, like that hereinafter identified bythe numeral 203, so that the operation of the clutch may be easilyeffected to enable the harvesting mechanism to be rotated with respectto the travelling base whenever desired.

. The second outlet of the transmission device 'E IAG for driving theendless tracks 5 of the travellin'g base to propel the harvester mayadvantageously consist of a shaft |56 coupled at one end to a shaft |51which is driven through a pair of miter or bevel gears by one of theoutlets of the transmission |110 (Figure 10). At its other end, theshaft 56 is coupled to a shaft 58 which is mounted in a suitable bearingand through a pair of bevel or miter gears imparts rotation to avertically arranged shaft 59. Rigid with shaft |58 is a pinion |69 whichmeshes with a pinion |6| keyed to a vertical shaft |62 which is mountedwithin the center pin 5|.

At its lower end shaft |52 is provided with a miter gear |53 whichmeshes with a similar gear mounted on one end of a main drive shaft |55of the travelling base (Figure 7). Extending transversely of the base atthe end of the drive shaft |55 is a shaft |55 on which is rigidlymounted ring gear 556m. Adjacent opposite ends of shaft it are sprocketwheels |51 which may be selectively and simultaneously locked to orrendered free of the shaft by clutches 161e. Passing around the sprocketwheels |51 are sprockets |58 which also pass around sprocket wheels |55'on shafts |15. One of the shafts |10 is connected by chain and sprocket|1| to one of the endless tracks 5 and the other of the shafts isconnected by chain and sprocket to the other` endless track. By suitableoperation of the clutches |510, the vshafts |15 may be driven at thesame or at different speeds. When driven at the same speeds both endlesstracks are caused to move at the same speed and the travelling basewill, therefore,v move in a straight line but, when driven at differentspeeds, the endless tracks will also move at different speeds and thetravelling base will, therefore, turn. This mechanism for driving( theshafts at the same or at different speeds is identical at both ends ofshaft |56 and, as it forms no part of the invention of this application,only one of the two identical clutch and sprocket constructions is shownin Figure '7 of the drawings.

The reciprocating cutters and the rotatable lifting disks receive theirmotion from a shaft |12 which is driven by a transmission shaft |13through a pair of bevel or miter gears |14, the shaft |13 constitutingthe third outlet of the transmission device lll (Figure 1D). Coupled toshaft |12 is a shaft |15 supported in bearings |15 and provided at itsforward end with a clutch |11. By means of this clutch, shaft |15 isadapted to be connected with and disconnected from a shaft |18 having abevel gear |19 which meshes with a bevel gear mounted on a shaft |8|which extends from one side of the harvester frame to the other at theforward end thereof, being supported in bearings |32 (Figure 9). At eachend the shaft |8| is connected by suitable chain and sprocket mechanism|83 to the shafts i3 of the cutting devices E, from which, as heretoforeexplained, the reciprocating cutting blades 23 and the shafts 3 havingthe lifting disks 35 are driven. The clutch |11 for opera-- tivelyconnecting shaft |15 with'shaft |8| may, of course, be operated by anysuitable connection (not shown) to a lever 58a under the control of theoperator of the machine.

To drive the sprocket chain apparatus having the fingers S6, shaft |12is provided with a sprocket wheel |85 for driving a sprocket chain |85which cooperates with a sprocket mounted upon a jack shaft |81 (Figure1G). Through a pair of bevel gears, shaft |81 is rotatably connected toshaft it which is provided at its outer end with a clutch |89 whereby asprocket |95 mounted on shaft |88 may be connected thereto ordisconnected therefrom. By a, chain |5|, sprocket |99 is adapted toydrive sprocket |92 having a hub which is revolubly mounted on one endof shaft 49 by which the conveyer is pivotally connected to the frame ofthe machine. Rigid with this hub is another and smaller sprocket |93which through a chain |95 and a sprocket |95 drives the shaft 63 at theupper and rear end of the incline structure around which the endlesssprocket chains 6| pass. Movement of the clutch |39 whereby theconveying mechanism may be set in operation or stopped may be effectedby an?,1 kind of connection with a lever |96 which is located so as tobe under the control of the operator of the machine. The motion which isimparted to the sprocket chains which carry the fingers @E is, asexplained heretofore, so timed with respect to the forward movement ofthe harvester that the horizontal component of the speed of the fingersis approximately equal to the forward speed of the machine.

f Movement is imparted lto the sprocket chain 9,4 which,.asstated,rotates shaft 9i to raise-the gate 8 4 ofthe hopper 83, from a vsprocketit?! mounted on .shaft through a Ychain i a bevel-.gear assembly mountedwithin a housing L99 and a sprocket 2S@ which cooperates with thechain343v (Figure '7).

Theitransmission iii') is provided with ccnventional 4means (not shown)whereby the shafts ist and |12 which respectively actuate the propellingmechanism ofthe travelling base and of thevcutting mechanisme-nd thevarms may be selectively andsimultaneously driven at two dif ferent.speeds (Figure 10). This means within ther-transmission may be actuatedby a Ashifter 2M which is connected by rod 29.2, ybell crank lever. 293.and rodl .'idtoa lever .2&5 which is con vehientl'y mounted so as to beunder the control of theoperator of the machine. When this lever ismoved in .onedirectiou the shifter E. is actuated to sirnultaneoush7increase the speeds of shafts land whenthe lever is moved in theopposite direction the shifter is actuated to simultaneously decreasethe speeds of those shafts. irrespective of the speeds of the shafts,however, the same timed relationship heretofore explained is maintainedso that the 'horizontal component of the speed of the conveyer will waysreniain approzrimatelyy equal tothe forward speed of thewm'achine,

The transmission is provided with still other well known means (notshown) adapted to be actuatedby ashifterV 28S to reverse the directionof rotation ofthe shaft ld and thus reverse the direction of movement ofthe travelling The shifter 2F15 may be conveniently connected by rod2iligbell crank lever 258 and rod 2de to lever Mc pivote-ily mounted soas to be easily operable by the operator of the machine,

The means for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder |23 for actuatingthe piston |22 for elevating the forward end of the inclined chute mayconveniently consist of an oil pump 2|| which is connected to Aan oiltank 2|2 by a suction pipe 2ii-(Figure7). The pump 2|| maybeconveniently driven from the main drive shaft |34 ofthe apparatus by achain and sprocket connection 2 I4.

Oil from the pump 21| passes through a pipe 2|51to a control valve` 2|6,fragmentary portions of whichareshown in Figure '7. This valve isconnected'to the voil tankby a pipe 2|1Yand to the. `rearendof cylinder|23 by a pipe 2|8. By havingfthe valve connected with the oil tank,

it is possible for the pump 2| to run continuously.

by a suction pipe 22| to an oil tank 222 and is connected by a dischargepipe 223 to a control valve 224 (see Figures 9 and l0).

Leading from the control valve to the. rear end ofthe cylinder |23 is apipe 225 and leading tothe ,front end of the cylinder from the controlvalve is a pipe 226 (Figure 6). Under normal conditions, fluid underpressure.` is supplied to the front end of the cylinder and. the pistonV|30 thereof is-held in its innermost position by clos.. ing valve 224which, although allowing the oil to iiow back to the tank 222 through apipe 221 nevertheless enables the piston to be subjected to thedesiredfluid pressure. When it is. desired tol moverthe vforward end of thecutting unit 2 downwardly. withv respect to .the incline struc ture, oilunder pressure is admitted to the rear end of 4cylinder |29 through pipe225 by proper manipulationof control valve 224. Should the cuttingdevice be subjected to excessive strain when being moveddownwardly withrespect to the chute or incline, a relief valve 228 permits the oil toreturn to the tank 222. Valve-224, as wellr as valve 2|6, may beoperated by levers mounted on the sideof the harvester within convenientreach of the operator.

With all the various parts cooperating in the manner thus described, theharvester is brought in line with the two rows of cane to be cut preferably initially at one side of the field. The in.- cline structure andthe reciprocatingy cutters are then lowered so that the cutters aredisposed about two inches from the ground and the harvester is then setinto operation. As the machine moves'along the ground. the blades 23reciprocate at about twice the forward Speed of the harvester so thatthey will not cut twice in the same place and while they shear the canein the two furrows being. cut close to the` plant stools, one of theside trimmers 15, at least, is operating to shear thecane lying near theground but extending out of or into the path of movesy ment of themachine.

Shaftssll revolving so that the convexly curved edges ofthe lifting.prongs 3.5 engage thecanev as described, will lift the cane from theground to thereby enable the reciprocating cutters to act freely and atthe same time they will lift the out blanket of cane and transfer it onto the floor 330i the incline structure. The arms 66 of themovablemechanism associated with the incline easily penetrate the tangledinterlocked mass of cane and move upwardly with it as the harvesteradvances to the end of the floor 39 whe're the. cane falls into hopper83 at .therear of the harvester. When the hopper is lled, the gate 84 israised upwardly, as described, so as topermit thecut caneto drop inheaped piles on the ground. It will, of course, be appreciated that,shouldthe forward advance of the harvester itself fail to transmitsuicient force to the cut swath of cane to move it up the incline, thearms 66.v will then act as. conveyor arms to supply the additional forcenecessary.

These operations are continued until theharvester reaches the end of thefurrow beingcut. The forward ends of the incline structure and of thecutting device are then raised so` as to clear all obstructions and theentiresuperstructure of the harvester is swung around with respect tothe travellingybase. With the harvesting mechanism facing in theopposite direc.-Y tion,.v the travelling base is then maneuvered intoaposition in line with the next two cane furrows to becut, and theforward ends of the incline structure and of the device are then loweredand the operations just described repeated..

From the foregoing, it will be perceived that I have devised a machinefor harvesting cane which, in addition to being capable of effectivelyand emcientlyperforming its intended function, will stand up under thesevere service conditions to which such machine are subjected. As shownin the main side views of the machine, many of the sprockets and chainsmay be enclosed and the sides of the cutting devices may be covered byside plates 229; and the movable mechanism associated with the inclinemay itself constitute the oor of the incline and operate in the sametimed relation with respect to the forward advance of the harvester asherein explained. Various changes and alterations may also be made, aspreviously indicated, in the particular embodiment of the invention hereillustrated and described without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled condition, saidmachine being provided at its forward end with a plurality of cuttingmeans, one of said cutting means operating in a position to sever thetangled cane from the ground and the other of said cutting means beingpositioned at the sides of said machine close to the ground to sever thecane freed from the ground from cane growing into the path of forwardmovement of said machine to thereby form a swath of tangled cane, anupwardly and rearwardly extending incline to receive said swath oftangled cane, and means cooperating with said incline to insure movementof said swath along said incline as the machine moves forwardly.

2. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled condition, saidmachine being provided at its forward end with a plurality of cuttingmeans, one of said cutting means operating in a position to sever thetangled cane from the ground and the other of said cutting means beingpositioned at the sides of said machine to sever the tangled cane cutfrom the ground from cane growing into the path of forward movement ofsaid machine to thereby form a swath of the tangled cane, an inclinestructure extending upwardly and rearwardly from said cutting meansincluding a floor to which the swath of tangled cane is delivered, andendless mechanism for engaging the tangled swath of cane delivered tosaid iioor and for moving with it as the tangled cane is advanced alongthe floor by the forward movement of the machine, the horizontalcomponent of the speed of the endless n,

mechanism being substantially equal to the speed of the forward movementof the harvester.

3. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled conditionincluding a rigid frame, cutter members providing' a unit pivotallyassociated with said frame and provided with a plurality of cuttingmembers, an incline structure extending upwardly and rearwardly fromadjacent said cutting members, and rotatable means extendingtransversely of the machine rearwardly of said cutting members fortransferring the cut tangled cane onto said incline in an undisturbedcondition.

4. A machine for harvesting cane lgrowing in a tangled conditionincluding a cutter unit mounted at the forward end of said machine andprovided with reciprocating cutting members movable substantially in thedirection of normal `movement of the machine close to the ground, anincline structure mounted on said machine and extending upwardly andrearwardly from adjacent the cutting members, and a rotatable shaftextending transversely of the machine adjacent the cutting members, saidshaft having a plurality of prongs rearwardly of said cutting lf3members for transferring the cut tangled cane to the forward end 0f saidstructure in an undisturbed condition, and the lifting side of each ofsaid prongs being convexly curved.

5. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled conditionincluding a rigid frame, a cutter unit mounted adjacent the forward endof said machine provided with a plurality of cutting members positionedclose to the ground, an incline structure mounted on said frameextending upwardly and rearwardly from adjacent said cutting members,said structure having a floor and an endless conveying device forengaging cane cut by said members, said endless conveying device beingmovable along the floor from one end thereof to the other as the machineadvances, and rotatable means extending tra-nsversely of said cutterunit rearwardly of said cutting members, said means being provided witha plurality of prongs for feeding said cut cane to said floor.

6. A machine for harvesting cane in a tangled conditi-on including arigid frame, a cutter unit pivotally co-nnected on a substantiallyhorizontal axis to the forward end of said frame provided with movablecutting members, an incline structure extending upwardly and rearwardlyfrom adjacent said cutting members and pivotally connected adjacent theupper end thereof to said frame, said structure having means engageablewith said tangled cane cut by said members and movable at a rateslightly faster than the forward movement of the machine to convey saidtangled cane rearwardly in an undisturbed condition, and trimmingdevices involving vertically movable knives respectively mounted onopposite sides of said incline adjacent the forward edge thereof.

7. A cane harvesting machine including a rigid frame, a cutter unit atthe forward end of said machine provided with reciprocating cuttingmembers movable substantially horizontally in the direction of normalmovement of the machine, an incline structure mounted on said frame andextending upwardly and rearwardly from adjacent said cutting members,trimming devices positioned close to the ground respectively arrangedadjacent opposite sides of said cutting unit and respectively havingvertically movable pivoted knives, and means for delivering cane cut bysaid cutting members and said trimming devices to the incline structure,said means including a rotatable shaft extending transversely of saidcutter unit provided with a plurality of prongs adapted to lift the cutcane and advance it toward said structure, each of said prongs beingconvexly curved on its lifting edge.

8. A cane harvesting machine including a rigid frame, a cutter unitextending forwardly of said machine provided with a plurality of cuttingmembers, an incline structure mounted on said frame and extendingupwardly and rearwardly from adjacent said cutting members, saidstructure having a floor and an endless chain device for moving with cutcane along said floor as the machine advances, and means mounted on saidcutter unit in advance of said incline structure for lifting the cutcane and advancing it toward said floor, said means including arotatable shaft extending transversely of the cutter unit, prongs rigidwith said shaft for lifting the cut cane, the lifting edge of each prongbeing convexly curved, and an apron bridging the space between said fl??`vshaft and vfsaidiioo'r havingial plurality of; notches ffor-Sreceivingsaid '-prongs.

-9.,.'A machine fort-harvesting. cane igrowing iin a tangled 'condition.'includingxa yrigid frame, r-a cutter unit extending forwardly of saidmachine provided with a plurality 'of members .for-'cut- 'ting #thetangled lcane, an `incline ,-.structure mounted onV saidframe-andextending upwardly fandrearwardly from'adj acent' 'said'cutting members-:saidstructure-having a floor-land anfendless-chai'ndevicefor moving with vcutV cane along'fthe iiocrl` in Canlundisturbed condi-tion from ione Vend theref-tothe' other duringitheforwar'd; advance fof '-thel machine, a 'transversely extending rotat-:able shaft-mounted'on said cutter unit-:adjacent "the rearA ofsaidcutting members, a1 pluralityv of flaterally spaced .disks 'mountedon said shaft respectively-provided with prongs for lifting ,theAtangled cut cane and advancing it towardsaid floor,1the' liftingedge-of each ofA said-prongs be- .i-ng `-'convei'rly curved, 1 and aninclined fapron r mounted on the cutter uniti for bridging the space-between said shaft and-*said floor.

10. A machine fori-harvesting cane growing in a tangled conditionincluding a Vrigid frame, a cutter unitpivot'allyv lconnected toadjacent the --forward endof said frame provided with cuttingmembers-'adapted to E*bedisposed adjacent the Iground `forcuttingthetangled cane, ani-incline structure `extend-ing upwardly andrearwardly from-adjacent said cutting members v,andpivof-ta'lly-connecte'd adjacent the iupper end thereof to said framewhereby the-'forward end .ofv the" finfeline may be adjustedverticallywith respect-to "the ground, and means-'movably connectingysaid '-cu'tt'er -iunit -to -said incline-structure sol that verticaladjustment-of the forward endof saidstructure with respect to the groundwill effect a vertical adiustment of the forward end of the cutter unitwith respect` tov the'ground.

11. A cane harvesting 'machineL including a rigid frame, a cutter unitpivotally `connectedto adjacent the forward end of 4said frame providedwith cutting members, an incline structure eX- tending upwardly andrearwardly from said cutting-membersa-nd -pivotally*connected adjacent-theupperendv thereof-to` said frame whereby the forward end -oftheincline may be adjusted ver- -tically--withrespect -to' the ground,means movably connecting-said cutter `unitand said incline 00 structureso that vertical adjustmentA of the `for- A-ward end ofthe inclineVstructure withrrespect to *the ground will effect a vertical adjustmentof the cutter unitfand'means for effecting vertical adjustment oftheforward endof the cutter unit with respect to the ground independentlyof Vadjustment of the yincline structure.

l2. A machine 'forharvesting'cane growing in a tangled fc'ondition.including a cutter unit mounted at the forward end of said machine.having` a plurality of members for cutting the tangled cane, inclinemeans extending upwardly and rearwardly from adjacent the cuttingmembers, said means having substantially upright walls and a floor whoseforward end is disposed adjacent the inner ends of said members,vertically movable knives close to the ground pivotally mounted on theside Walls of said means adjacent opposite sides of the cutting members,and an endless device movable above said members into engagement withcut cane delivered to said floor for moving with it as it is advancedalong said floor by forward movement of the machine.

13. A cane harvesting machine including a l Icutter unitzmountezd zatithe iforward endmf ,fsaid machine provided with a rplurality of .cuttingLfmembersreciprocating in a direction of move- -ment offthe:;machineincline means extending upwardly aand, rearwardlyfrom,adjacent the,v cutfxtingumembersshavinga floor andzside Walls,faihopper'beneath the.; rear ,-endof said means, said [floor havingitsfront-end disposed inwardly-of fsai'dr-cutting' members: and .itsrear end "disposed 10v f above lsaid hopperinwardly of the adjacent-en'ds o'f-sai'd-side wallsy-anduan endless device mov- -able withthefcane 'cut-'bysaid members as itl-is advanced-along -said-floor'bythe forward movelrnentof vthe' machine, saiddevicebeing movable*downwardly Vabove the f cutting --members --in -ad- `Vance-of the frontend of'- the oor,` into engagementwith the icut cane and beingmovablebe- "yc-ndthe` rear end ofthe floor above thej hopper lto permitthe cuticane to'drop free therefrom into 20 said hopper.

14. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a-'tangled conditionincluding a rigid frame, a cutter unit pivotally connected to adjacentthe vforward end of said frame provided with recipro- CatinguttingAmembers movable substantially horizontally in the direction of normalmovement of said machine for cuttingsaidtangledpane Vfrom thegroundmeans forsvertically `adjusting @the forward end ofthe cutterunitwith respect `Ato..`the ground, an incline. structure extendingupwardly andV rearward-lyv from-,adjacent said cutting members and`pivotally connectedto said frame independently. .of the -cutter unit,so ythat .,theforward end offy the structure may-befadjustedwith--respectto the ground, said-structure,A hav- `,ing anendless `chain,device for engaging cut cane delivered thereto and for moving withthe-cane vas it -is forced to-travel up said-incline -by-the Iforwardadvance :of .the machine, and-trimming .devices respectively -mounted onopposite v ,s idesi of said cutter unit for-severingv the tangledcane-cut rom the ground vfrom-canegrowing intothe path of the .advancingmachine,- each trimming -gdevice comprising av pair fofrearwardly.-convergingcstar-tionary-fbladesa fdouble: edgedknife-@.pivotally .--mounted-a adjacenty theinnerf.; endsofI saidbladesfor alternatively cooperating: therewith, an arm -@frigid-,withfsaidknif e, and ,meansfconnecte d,- tofsaid -arm and operable uponmovement, of said endless chain Yfor actuating said knife.

v15; A vmachine for harvesting cane growing in a tangledA conditionincluding a rigid frame, a cutternnitgpivotally connected-,to adjacent-the forward end of said frame provided with recipro- 4 eating .cuttingmembers Amovable substantially horizontallyiin the direction in whichthe :ma-

f chineL-.is .normallylada-pted to: move -to cut-,the tangledcane fromythe ground-means for-actuatf ingz-said cutting members to cause themto-move vat ai' rate. zuoproximatelyv twicethe rate of the i vforwardmovement of Vthe -machinewhereby the cutting members will not cut morethan once in the same place, cutting means at the side of the machinefor freeing the cane cut from the ground from cane growing into the pathof the advancing machine, an incline structure extending upwardly andrearwardly from adjacent said cutting members for receiving the cut caneand discharging it at the rear of said frame, said structure beingpivotally connected to said frame adjacent the rear thereof so that itsforward end may be adjusted vertically with respect to the ground, andmeans for effecting vertical adjust- 76 ment of the forward end of thecutter unit with 19 respect to the ground independently of adjustment ofthe conveyer.

16. A cane harvesting machine including a rigid frame, a cutter unitpivotally connected to adjacent the forward end of said frame providedwith) a plurality of cutting members, an incline structure extendingupwardly and rearwardly from adjacent said cutting members and pivotallyconnected to said frame whereby the forward end of the said structuremay be adjusted vertically with respect to the ground, inclined guidemembers mounted on opposite sides of said structure, arms rigid withsaid cutter unit for respectively cooperating with said guide memberswhereby vertical adjustment of the forward end of said structure willeffect corresponding adjustment of the forward end of the cutter unit,and iiuid pressure operated means mounted on said frame and movablyconnected to said structure for vertically adjusting the forward end ofthe latter.

17. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled conditionincluding a rigid frame, a cutter unit pivotally connected to adjacentthe forward end of said frame provided with a plurality of members forcutting said tangled cane, an incline structure extending upwardly andrearwardly from adjacent said cutting members and pivotallj,7 connectedto said frame whereby the forward end of said structure may be adjustedvertically with respect to the ground, means niovably connecting saidcutter unit and said structure so that vertical adjustment of theforward end of said structure will simultaneously eect a correspondingadjustment of the forward end of the cutter unit, said means includinginclined guide members arranged on opposite sides of said inclinestructure and arms rigidly mounted on said cutter unit and slidablycooperable with said guide members, and means for adjusting the forwardend of the cutter unit with respect to the forward end of saidstructure.

13. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled conditionincluding a rigid frame, a vertically adjustable cutter unit mounted onthe forward end of said frame provided with a plurality of members forcutting the tangled cane, and an incline structure extending upwardlyand rearwardly from adjacent said cutting members and pivotallyconnected to said frame so that its forward end may be adjustedvertically with respect to the ground, said structure comprising a iiocrhaving its forward edge adjacent the inner ends of the cutting members,a plurality of endless chains, transversely extending rods respectivelyconnected to said chains and movable therewith, auxiliary transverserods arranged in spaced relation to said rst named rods and pivotallyconnected thereto, cane engaging arms rigid with said auxiliary rodsmovable downwardly above said cutting members into engagement with thetangled cane cut thereby for ell) moving with the tangled cut cane as itis advanced along said floor by forward movement of the machine, andmeans arranged on opposite sides of said incline structure forsupporting the ends of each of said rods.

19. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled conditionincluding a cutter unit mounted at the forward end of said machineprovided with a plurality of members for cutting the tangled cane, andan incline structure extending upwardly and rearwardly from adjacentsaid cutting members having a floor portion adjacent the inner end ofthe cutting members, said structure including a plurality of endlesschains, a plurality of transversely extending rods respectively having aplurality of rigid arms movable above said cutting members intoengagement with the cane cut thereby for moving with the cut cane as itis advanced along said floor by forward movement of the machine, each ofsaid arms being rigidly provided at its inner end with a forwardlyprojecting portion for hingedly connecting the associated rod tosaidchains at points in advance of said rod, and means affording guidewaysfor said rods.

20. A machine for harvesting cane growing in a tangled conditionincluding a cutter unit mounted at the forward end of said machine andprovided with a plurality of members for cutting said tangled cane, aninclined chute extending upwardly and rearwardly from adjacent thecutting members, said chute having a floor and substantially uprightside walls, an endless device above said oor movable into engagementwith the cut cane delivered to the floor, and a transverse barpositioned in advance of said endless device to prevent uncut cane fromentering said chute.

THOMAS A. GUILD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile ofthis patent:

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